Elements of the firearms community didn’t approve of this, viewing it as supplying the enforcers with weapons that the citizens couldn’t have. Given that most places with bad gun laws don’t make exceptions for individual ownership by law enforcement or military – the exceptions are usually only made for duty/issue weapons – the issue seems to be blown out of proportion by some folks just a bit.

Nonetheless, there has been a lot of criticism in the last couple of days towards gun companies for sales to individual officers in the states that do allow LEOs special privileges – because those ban states then would have those same LEOs enforce unconstitutional laws on the citizenry.

Magpul was targeted for this criticism, since Magpul allowed a one-time order for law enforcement; regardless of location. After much communication from some firearms enthusiasts, Magpul amended their duty sales program today:

Regarding LEO Sales

March 1st, 2013

Back in 1990, when I was deployed in Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a Marine grunt, some companies prioritized me items for my M16 for shipping that I purchased with my own funds. After getting out and forming Magpul in 1999, I established the same priority policy for Military and Law Enforcement, due to the requirements of their profession.

The same policy has been in place for 13 years now and has never been an issue until a few days ago. I do not support the idea that individual police officers should be punished for the actions of their elected officials. That said, I understand the concerns that some have with Law Enforcement officers getting special treatment while at the same time denouncing second amendment rights to another citizen in the same state.

With the fight in Colorado right now we do not have time to implement a new program, so I have suspended all LE sales to ban states until we can implement a system wherein any Law Enforcement Officer buying for duty use will have to promise to uphold their oath to the US Constitution – specifically the second and fourteenth amendments – as it applies to all citizens.

Richard Fitzpatrick

President/CEO – Founder

Magpul Industries

Some firearms enthusiasts who were vehemently and colorfully pushing for the Magpul to rescind its LEO program would do well to remember that Magpul really is going to be picking up and moving out of Colorado when CO’s magazine ban passes, which is no small statement of principle.

At the same time, those in ban states are making their concerns known that selling to individual officers who would be excluded by law is creating a world where “some animals are more equal than others” – especially if providing to enforcers of unconstitutional laws, and it is a policy that a principled gun company should examine, and Magpul has.

Asking for a declaration of Constitutional understanding and principle from their customers might be worth expanding to everyone.